Arch for boiler fireboxes



2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR ROBERT d. NEEDHAM R. J. NEEDHAM Filed Oct. 6. 1931 ARCH FOR BOILER FIRE BOXES July 18, 1933.

W? ATTORNEYS July 18, 1933- R. J. NEEDHAM l ARCH FOR BOILER FIRE BOXES Filed Oct. 6. 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR ROBERT d. N EED HAM ATTORNEYS d aol- IIIIIMII lll A. IIIIA l 'Patented July 18,;

. ofthe boilerifirebox of a locomotive.into..a` combustion Vohamberan'd afurnace chamber; andisknownas Vthe ..brick arch. Important: lo nects of the inventionY are,4 to provide such an arch of generally improved construction; f.

. g ROBERTS. NEEnHAivL-.F frogglqib, NTARIQ, CANADA.

" Attori rortisjonrmv -iinmoxris- Application -niea october' e, 1931'. serial 110.5673181.

This invention; relatesto l' improvements.V in f abaflie `or screen rwhich divides'the interior `to provide an arch of great durability; to

provide an arch having improved'supports for thebricks rendering it possible to employ durable metal. bricks inl-.place r of the` usualv refractorynbricks which. disintegrate,4 and tol -provide for a desirably Vclose arrangement ber of` the firebox `chamber. f

of the water tubes inthe arch structure and at thesame time afford .adequate communr. cation between the fireboX` chambers for the How of hot gases7 and adequate clearance to permit workmen to enter the furnace ychamfrom @the combustion In the drawings,

Fig l` is a seetiontaken 'on the line of Fig. 2 showing the improvedbrick archV theline 9--9 of Fig. :2 a vertical longitudinal. sectional view ofthe iirebox end of alocomotive boil@- er and the improved brick'arcliin .theikire-v Fig. 3 anelevation ofithe: firebox theboilerg. g Fig. 4 adetail. perspective view of one'of the arch bricks;

Fig.' 5 an enlarged detailsectiontakenfon-'i I the lineoffFigjfZ; f Y f f.

1*`ig.6faviewV similar to Fig. l, showing a modified `form Vof the arch';

Fig.- 7 a vertical ,section taken fonlltlie rfrof Fige- Fig. 8 an'elevation of vthe iireb'ozryend.Lofi 'the boiler having .the modified arch.; .and Fig. A9 an enlaro'ed detailI section The improved arch is shown embodied in a-v locomotive boiler '.off conventional form.

The fireb'ox spacerof the boiler. is definedby the crown sheet l; the. back sheetl2,.1the 4back t tube sheet 3, theinclinedfinsidethroatrsheet taken on i back head and the Vouter.throatsheetr"The i A `Jacket space i is `an: extension of the water space within theboiler shell. 4. i The'fir'e door hole l0 is formed 1in the backsheet 2 and back i: i

head 7, and the vboiler fluesor tubes from lthe tube'sheet 3. i. L

vThe a-rchis atscreen or bafile extendingl from the back sheet f2 downward" and rearward to .the throat sheet 4 andudividing the. -fireboxv into a furnace *..ch'ambery 12fandz 11 extend combustion chamber Ilinto4 which the" fines ll open. The purpose of thearch is to pro-` mote combustionlforce the Haines to impinge .U y

the back, surfaces y of Y the fire. boX,' baiiie I sparks, abate ysmoke and` protect the flues.- v

Referringfirst' to the f form of my invention f shown in Figs. l'to 5 inclusive, the improved.

arch Vstructure includes a series of inclined l water-tubespll joined `v at'their rearends tov the backsheet 2 and extending downward k and forward tothe inner throatsheet .4to l which theirfforward ends '.arej oined. 'l`he" i ends of the tubes open through said sheets into; the adjacent front and rea-rfwater .jaclzet`spaces, and provide for acirculation f ofthe boilerwater through the iirebX. f The. tubes havespaced parallel forward reachesw` lladisposedinfthe same .inclined `plane and: t thefforjward ,ends Aof saidreaches are joined to the, throat sheetlon a-horizontal line;` 7 These parallel tubejreaches are'zoflmaterial' 1 lengthfand they serveto'f'support thei archf'- 1 bricks 15whichclosethespaces betweensaidgituberreaches'. i .At their rear ends the tubesl have' reaches 14? which are diverted fronrthe'f.g5 Y courses ofsaidparallel'reaches infa marmerr f to provide. adequate .communicating space`r j Y between the ireboX chambers 12 andy 13. The e tubesform a plurality of groups and in veach `group the `tubes-iare .b e`nt,.as.shownat`;16,rto i "-converge; their f rea'clies lLblaterally, diverge. 7

themfvertically and dispose theirrearends-in superposed` positions'.A These#ends,` `where theyvare joined lto thesheetl 2,9lie ina fore apertures registering with said: tubeends and screwfpljugs I f the furnace chamber. tothe combustion chainf My` Vimproved arrangement of the arch I tubes eiiables'me to employ a greater number of tubes i spaced more closely together [permits the use lof nietal arch bricks instead ofthe usual `bricks `of refractory vmaterial. l Heretofore thel arch tubes of locomotive hre.

l boxes'have extended their fulllength with 1 sie no lateral bend.

y n Back of the arch bricks there must be suliicientspace between the 'tubes' for unrestricted flew of the hotvgases.

from the furnace chamber tothe combustion cha1nbe'r. The spaces between thetubes must bei' for cleaning and repairing' work. This heretofore necessitated placing of the tubes quite aimaterial' distance apart, the lateral space between tubes being usually about six teen inches. YV ith .the tubes-sogspaced it is s impractioable to 'employ metal. bricks 'bevcause the. large area of the-bricks exposed between tubes to the heat, andthe limited cooling contact ofthe bricks with the tubes causes the bricks to' fuse. Therefore it ,was necessary to employl the refractory bricks.

' rlh'e'sebricks are costly and they'disintegrate rapidly. They-must be removed frequently on 'account of work done in the irebox and fin' their removal theyare generallyrbioken andcannot 4be used again.

y quiredV rWorking'and circulation clearance, I i employ Varch tubes ofpieferably abouttlireeincliesoutside diameter and have thebrick supporting. reaches of the tubes laterally l In my improved Larch tube `arrangeiiient, Whereinltlie rear end'portions of tl'ie'tu'ies tare laterally bent out of the way 'for the respaced aparta distance approximately equal tothe.tubefdiameterr This arrangement adds Y tubing may be vaifiedl Illiave also devised Figs. 6 to 9 inclusive tliefarchbricks are dis. Y

, side langeslf"L having concaveunder sur#` facesj 15b ywhich fit closely around approXi--V a matelyV one fourthof the tubelcircumference. Between the lsaid flangesv the brick lfia'sade-`V pressedibody "portionfl' lxvhic'li is interposedA directly betweenftheV adjacent gsupportingV fftubes.' YThe brick is` approximately thersame i thickness throughout. The' brick isthlls'de-"f signed vfor direct andrapid transference lof y f' however. l Y

- delini-tely4v and ibek repeatedly removed Y and replaced'withou't injury.'l`he closey :spacing of the `tubes,'with inereasedlbrick" inateriallyto the number'of Vtubes and enables the usesof .very 'narrow metal bricks, with -inaterial'lyincreased cooling contact with tubes. It will be understood, how-Y` even-.that the .diameter and spacing Vof the metal bricks 'lof in'iproved design for mounting uponithe tubes la; As shown, each.i brick has y outwardly 1 and Viupwardly curved its heatto .the water"tubesftofprevent it from fusing. Tli'isbrickdesign may be varieilfyT --'lhei'netal bricks Vwill lasting'.-

even longitudinalY Water flow in the boiler, as

Yupward so Ythat theA Workman Vhas ample l breakage 'ofthe brick which isusually 'conse-f :tubesis similar to thatpreviouslvfdescribed.

cooling effect, also makesit possible to einL ploy cheap, low temperature bricks ofv either refractory materialA or metal', if desired, for Veconomical. reasons. Also, the jincreased Y number ofarch tubes, andthe consequently increased volume ofV waterexposed tothe heatviii the rebox adds ,materially to the yefficiency of the boiler. Furthermore, the l close spacing ofthe arch tubes. causes amore Y it enables the water in tlieboiler to vreach the tubes witliless' transversel flow., y v Y Because of the close arrangementof the forward brick-supportingreaches 14? of the tubes and the useof the short arch brick I provide a strong Yworkin platforinon which the Workmen maystand'whilfe cleaning thek boiler tubes. This. work-ingfplatform eig-1 .tends from the throat sheet llforward andv space and supportzfwhilewvorking'jon the boiler tubes. The bricksare of such i shape that any stress brought on: `them Vby reason of the weight of the workmen is'iol a certain extent transn'iittedlaterally `to the tubesv andl to thebricks betweenfthe. tubes. The short briekswill no be in anyway injured by the workmen.v 1-

f' The ordinary locomotive' fire box`V arch formed of lrefractory brickinustfbe removed Y before the `worlnnen 4-can .clean the boilerl tubes.v These bricks are usually-quite large,

approximately 16 'inches in 1ength,and thiefremoval `and replacement of theniis e'iqoener breakage'. Withfmy metal brick andclosely arranged tubes in the Vhre arch portion of theV tubes thek bricks. need not be removed 'and are not in' anyfwaypinjured V.by the` Workmen While standing on rthem during the 'tube cleaning operation.V V VThe expense 'ofthe 1re-l moval of the arch brickfor the :cleaning op` erationY is savedpand alsothelexpenseof quent lupon Ythe cleaning yand 'replacement' of the ordinary refractory brick is'avoided. 'i A `In the vform oflmyfinvention shown in pense'dwith Va'i'idlrtlfie tub'esllfalone are arg` ranged tol form the baffle. An increasedv number of tubes are Vemployed Vandthe paralglel reaches M a of the tubes aregdisposed fin close sidevto vside contactto forinpa closed" baille. Y 'Otherwise the arrangeinentof the ThefrearWa-rd reaches.''vll/lb and't e forward* ends; (if the tubes:l are preferably .fl swage'd down to a rreducedidiameter'tov separate :the

"tubesfatfvtheir vjoints with: the lireboii' sheets 2 and 3 andgive adequate streng-th to said sheets' between. the tuberi-joint The increasednuinberf-of tubes faddsfs lll more to.

jthee ei'iieieney-of Vthe boiler,- in addition Jtodispensin'g` with the Vbricks and avoiding the* laborof setting-'them up.l andireinoving them.

ysive and frequently resultsin considerablefo j communicating .space between"v llslteadl 'of an' 'increased number of tubes to form'the baflleytubes of greater diameter" employed. Inl both forms ofthe inmay be l the curvature of the tube Vreacheslal" vention is such as to permit the tubes tol be easily and comprising a seriesof'water tubes hav- ,ing spaced parallel brick-supporting reaches and reaches laterally7 converged and disposed in superposed positions to provideincreasedY tion chamber and furnace chamber;

tweenffV u. l

2. In a locomotive boller `lirebox, `a baffle arch structure dlvldingvthe irebox-lntoa.

and comprising Aa series and disposed' p communicating space between said combus-` tionrchamber and furnace chamber; metal bricks supportedby `said parallel reaches ,of the tubes -andfclosingthe `spaces therebetween.` f

`3. Infa locomotive boiler firebox, a baille" arch structure dividing the firebox into a. combustion chamber l and a furnace chamberfA fandco'rnprising a series of fore-and-aft eX- having` spaced 'parallel brieksupporting reaches and re ar end reaches j: Y and :disposed in superf,

tending `water tubes laterally converged posed positions to providelncre-ased comev lnu'nicatingv space: between saidY ,combustion chamber and furnace chamber; vandbri'ckssupportedv by said parallel reaches ofi-the q tubes and closingl the spaces therebetween.`

v 4.-V In-a locomotive Vboiler lirebox,` a- `baffle u arch structure dividing the -firebox linto a combustion and a furnace chamber and com- Y prisi'n'g p water tubes having spacedl parallel brick-zr supporting reaches laterally spaced apart a:

a series of fore-and-aft'extending distance approximately equalQ-to the outer diameter converged `laterally and disposed VinV super# posed positions municatingV space chamber supported byV said parallel tube vreaches and closing'the spacesftherebetween.

l5'. In a locomotive boiler fireboznv a baffle arch structure dividing thelrebox .into a combustion chamber` and a furnace chamberand comprising a series of fore-and-aft extending water tubes having spaced' par'allelbrick-H v supporting reaches laterally spaced apart a distance p ameter of the-t1f1bes5andlreirjend` reaches said combus- 'and` bricks supported by saidparallelvreaches of u the tubes and closing the spaces tlierebeu i boiler water` circulation systemand having spaced parallel" vbricir-supportin-g ,forward u j reaches, adjacent "groups ofsaid'tubes hav-f. combustion chamberand a furnace chamber 1 of `water tubes hav-' ing spaced parallel brick-supporting reaches and reaches laterally converged in superposed positions-to provide increased f ami g, tube reaches. I'

of the tubes, and rear end reaches:

between said combustion andA furnace chamber and bricks approximately equal tofthe outer dil @diverged laterally fallal dlsptseaF-i Super-si posed `positions to provide increasec'lf:com-V municating space between said,- combustion chamber `andfurnace chamber; vandlbricks supported by said parallel tube` reaches and:

y closing l the spaces therebetween," said; bricks having concave opposite 'edges fitting V'around the supporting tubes'rand an:y intermediate-H4 lbody portionl disposed. directly' between ladj af '7] u centftubes.` 1 j u,

6; In' a locomotive firebox `havingjay 'water jacketin `communicationl with the jwater ,u i

space of thefboiler, a baiilefarch. structure dividing the firebox "into a combustion cham4 ing rear end reachesllaterally b ent and converged in each group anddisp'osed infsuperfv said forward wparallel-u jacket in communication .with the lwater space,`

posed positions in afore andaft vertical`V V `plane passing through one unbent tube'of the: group andparallelwith vertical planes pass-' l l ing through the forwardrefachesof'thetubes j* Y ofsaidgroupto provide material',communi-u eatingv jspacefbetween saidl chambers; 'sand-. y 'l rbrickssupported by 951 `7 .1 In. a locomotive 4fireboxhaving 'awater y of the boiler and having a back 'sheetlandv athroat sheetg" vaL baille y"struc-ture dividing the fire `box into a c'ombustion chambery and: a furnace chamber,-fand'comprisinga series-of u.

loolj fore-an'd-aft extending water tubes supported vat'their forward ends in the -throatsheet 54:

and extending `upwardly and rearwardly fand] connected at. their rear ends tothe Aback sheet above the fire'door lopening andl forming part i i *i of the; *boilerl lwaterl circulation systernfsaid: i

tubesfv having: Vp arallel brick :supportingf-ffo'rf n wardreaches arranged-'with slight spaces'between them-"adjacent groups ofsaidjtubes havingrear end reaches laterally converging lnfeach grouptoj disposeythe said reari'porj vtions inQafore-and-aft'vertical'plane parallel l with vertical vplanes passing through the for-f1"v w ywhereby the[transversespaces'fbetweenthe y! to provlde increased *com-l cent groups'lwillbe equal tot-he space' between thecentral tube-of one group and the centra-l tube" ofthe 'iadjacent'group5` ,at the throatl.;r

sheet; andfmetal b ricks's'upportedfby the'forc wardbrick'supporting reaches of-saidftubes, u @said bricks-forming v`a-fire archand lafwork l 1 vplatform extending fromfthe'throatshjeetl c rearwardly and upwardly;`l` f having a'water',

8..V In a locomotive `ifir'e bjox -aclsret in communication with the waterspacef-q f u .A `fof the boiler .and.having{-a back sheetl anda" l throat sheet, a baille, structure Ydividing,` the? v irebox into a combustion chamber andv af furnace chamber, and comprising a series of fore#V and-aft .extending` water tubes supported at theirvforward ends in the Vthroat sheet-and extending upwardly and rearwardly and cone nected at "their rear ends to theback sheet.'

above the fire, door opening vand forming part vofthe boilerv water circulation system, ysaid tubes having lparallel brickA supporting for- Ward reaches arranged with. slight spaces between* them, adjacent grous'ofrsaid tubes having rear end reaches laterally bent in each group to dispose the said rear-portions 1n aA fore-and-aft vertical plane'Y passing through superposedrear-portions of the tubes of adja-r `'cent groups will be equalto the space between the unbent tube' of one group and the unbentl tubeofthe adjacent group at the throat sheet l; land short bricks supported b vthe forward" Ajbrick'supporting reaches ofsaid tubes, said :bricks forming a fire'arch and a'work plat-- y form extending from the throat sheet rear-r Y bricksupportingfreachesoffsaidrtubessaid:

"vvardly and upwardly. I A' 9.:I.n a'locomotive fire boxhaving a water A form Vextending yrearwardly and upwardly.

" acket in communicationwith the Water space 3511. in alocomotive nreboX'havmgawater throat sheet, a baiiearch and Workingplatormstructure dividingrthe fire.' box into a of the boiler; and having a back sheet and a l'combustion chamber landa furnace chamber,

' 'andcomprisin'g a-series of foreandsaft eX-r tending'water tubes supportedi'atf'their forll Y ward'ends 'inthe throat sheet and extending; 1 upwardly and rearwardlyand'connectedV at their rearl ends tofthe backfsheetl aboveV the to dispose the saidlrear portions Qin .a ore- Vand-aft'verticalfplane passing through oneunbentrrtu'be of theVV group and parallel-'with 'vertical:planesipassingthrough the orvvard`- reaches of thel tubesfof said group, Whereby`- the transversespaces between the superposer-lf" rear portions .of the tubes ofjadj ac en-t groups will beequal'tov the spacebetween the unbent Y i *cleaning'thebo1lertubes..

' A ROBERT J., NEEDHAM:-. 1

.fireidoorbpening andforming part of the- 40boiler water circulationsysteni, Vsaid tubes@ r having parallel brickf'supportingforward; reaches arranged withslight spacesrbe'tween* Y y them, adjacent groups ofvsaiditubes'having'.

portion oi' said tubes, adjacent groups'oflsaid reare'nd reaches 'laterally bent in eachigrou'p tube of :one'z group 'and4 the unbent tube of the `adjacent grou-plat thethroat sheet; v and I n' Y tweenv them, adjacent groups of saidY tubes short bricks supported by theI forward `brick supporting reaches of saiditubes, saidj bricks `forminga firearch and a lwork platform en# tending rearwardly.k .f c, z .L 10. Ina locomotive frebox having a .water jacket in communication with the Ywater space of the boiler1 and .having-av back sheetfand a throat sheet, a baiie structure" dividing the 'lire box into a combustion `chamber and a furr-v nace chamber, and'eomprisingia series'of fore-.l

and-,aft extending water' tubes "supported at their forward endsin the throat sheetI and..v

extending upwardly and'rearwardly and con- V,nectedatltheir` rear "ends, toV the back( slieet abovethe fire door opening and forming part of the boiler water circula-tionl system, said tubes' havingp'arallel brick supportingffor i wardre'aches arranged with-.slight'spaces be`` 'having rear end reaches laterallyrbent in each group to dispose thesa'id rear pertionsxzoi' eachY group in a'forej-and-aft compact'group, v

wherebythetransverser spaces between said adjoining compact groups will be greaterY than the spaces'betweenthe tubes at .the throat sheet, and bricks supported byfthefforward bricks forming a fire archfand "a ywork:,plat i jacket in communication with the water space ofthe boiler and hzwlngfa backsheetiand a throat sheet,-a` battle structure`v dividing vthe nected at their're'ar ends to thelbacksheet abovethe fire door' opening andforming parttheir forward @has iaith@ throat ,Sheet/anaivofthe boilerwater circulation' system, said;v

tubes having fparallelV forward4 reaches are 'Y ranged close: together to 'forniy the fire.- arch" tubes having rear.. rend' reaches laterallyv bent `v group, whereby th"e transv erse spacesbetw'een saidadjoining compact groups 'willfpermitfja I worknlanfto'pass'therethrou hfand the'Sa-id v f,

closely'arranged forward reaches of said'tubes will serveasasupport for the-workman while V 'l in eachgroup'todispose the said rearlp'ortions f nace chamber, and comprising aseries offfore- 109 

